Tangled Hearts - The Alpha's Baby Mama-Chapter 300: Sojourn...

Selene POV

She sighed, rolling her eyes.

"You’ll need the guidance of a witch to be able to navigate through it else you’ll get stuck in a loop!" she said absentmindedly. "But you don’t have to go there. The Fates are looking for you, walking into their trap is suicidal. I know you want to prove yourself but..."

"Fare from that!" I stopped her immediately. "This isn’t about proving myself There is more to it, Belinda and I don’t expect you to understand. You’ve lived all your life playing a spawn, what do you know about love? What do you know about sacrifice?"

"A lot more than you’ll ever do!" she retorted. "You werewolves think a lot of things are grand gestures like right now, you going to meet with the Fates when you know so well that they’ve been searching for you. That’s what’s messed up, Selene. You have to..."

"I don’t need your advice, Belinda. I’d rather take advice from a fish than listen to anything you spew out from that mouth. Get some rest, we’ll leave tomorrow at dawn."

"You can’t come with your newborn. He’ll starve to death and be dehydrated."

"Don’t worry, I have all of that sorted out," I beamed a smile at her. "See you tomorrow."

I lay in bed staring at the ceiling wondering if I was making the right decision. I couldn’t sit back and let someone take the fall for me and I was tired of hiding or whatever it was this was. If the Fates wanted to see me, I would gladly go to them. I wanted to get this Chapter over and done with.

Whatever would be the outcome, I didn’t want to think about the outcome but I was ready to embrace whatever would be the outcome. It was better than lying idle all day in this house. So, I would go with Belinda tomorrow and leave strict instructions for the nannies, the maids and the warriors.

For once, let me do what is required of me.

~~~

The morning was damp, the air thick with dew and uncertainty. My heart clenched as I kissed each of my children goodbye, Maeve and Vina clinging to my arms, their tiny fingers grasping as if trying to tether me to them. My newborn son slept soundly in his nanny’s arms, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing in his mother’s chest.

"You’ll be safe here," I murmured, trying to believe my own words. "Stay together, listen to the nannies, and be brave for me, alright?"

Maeve’s lower lip trembled. "Mama, you’re coming back, right?"

"Yes," I said firmly, cupping her small face in my hands. "I promise. But I have to go now."

I turned away before the tears could spill, steeling myself for what lay ahead. Belinda stood by the gate, bound but mobile, her eyes gleaming with an infuriating mix of defiance and curiosity. I could feel her smirk even before she spoke.

"Heartwarming. Truly. But are you sure you’re ready for this, Luna?" she asked, the last word dripping with sarcasm.

"Shut up," I snapped, my patience already wearing thin. "Let’s go."

We set off in silence, the crunch of leaves underfoot the only sound. The path was dark and winding, the towering trees seeming to close in around us as we ventured deeper into the forest. The air grew heavier with every step, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that the forest itself was watching us, waiting.

Belinda was surprisingly cooperative at first, her footsteps steady and deliberate as she led the way. But as the hours dragged on, I began to notice a pattern. The same gnarled tree appeared in our path, its twisted branches unmistakable. Then, a peculiar rock formation I was sure we’d passed earlier came into view again.

"Are you serious right now?" I demanded, stopping abruptly.

Belinda turned, feigning innocence. "What? It’s a forest. They all look the same."

"Don’t play dumb with me," I growled, stepping closer. "You’re leading us in circles."

She crossed her arms, a smug smile tugging at her lips. "Maybe you’re just lost."

The sharp crack of my palm meeting her cheek echoed through the forest. Belinda stumbled back, her hand flying to her face as her eyes widened in shock.

"That was your last warning," I hissed, my voice low and dangerous. "You think this is a game? If you don’t take me to where I need to go, I swear I will make your life a living hell."

For a moment, she said nothing, her expression a mixture of anger and something else—perhaps fear, though she hid it well. Then, with a grudging nod, she straightened and wiped the corner of her mouth.

"Fine," she muttered. "Follow me."

This time, her steps were more purposeful, her movements lacking the earlier hesitation. The air grew colder as we descended further into the forest, the trees thinning slightly to reveal a path that seemed to glow faintly under the pale light of the moon.

"Is this it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Belinda nodded, her usual arrogance replaced by a rare seriousness. "We’re close. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you."

The path grew narrower, the trees on either side casting eerie shadows that danced and shifted in the corner of my vision. My heartbeat quickened, every nerve in my body on edge. I didn’t know what to expect when we reached the Fates, but one thing was certain—I wasn’t turning back now.

"You really think you can take them on, don’t you?" Belinda said suddenly, breaking the silence. Her tone wasn’t mocking this time, but curious.

"I don’t have a choice," I replied without looking at her. "I have to try."

She snorted. "Brave words. Let’s see if you can back them up."

I ignored her, focusing on the path ahead. The faint glow grew brighter, the air tingling with a strange energy that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. Whatever lay ahead, I knew it would change everything.

And I was ready. Or so I told myself.